The Author Vincent Koh is the founder of the Singapore Feng Shui Centre.He developed an interest in Feng Shui during his longsuccessful career in the building industry which spanned over30 years. Over time, many of his clients began to seek hisadvice on Feng Shui.

After many years of research, practice and mentoring in FengShui, Vincent began sharing his knowledge in public seminarsand through his teachings. To date, he has successfully trainedover a thousand students globally through the “Basic Scienceof Feng Shui” course. “Four Pillars of Destiny”, “Zi Wei DouShu” and “The I Ching” are some of the popular coursestaught by him.

Vincent has written four other books on Feng Shui: HsiaCalendar, Feng Shui for the New Millennium, Unveil YourDestiny and Basic Science of Feng Shui. He has also designedan English version of the Luo Pan (Feng Shui Compass), andthe popular I Ching Divination Cards.

Vincent holds a Diploma in Marketing from the CharteredInstitute of Marketing (UK), a Diploma in Sales and Marketing(Marketing Institute of Singapore) and is an executivecommittee member of the International Feng Shui Association(IFSA). He has been a moderator and speaker at theInternational Feng Shui Convention (IFSC) held in Singapore.He was awarded the title of Grand Master at the 6th IFSC in2009.

Vincent’s role as a mentor and educator of the art and scienceof Feng Shui is a unique and groundbreaking achievement.According to Vincent, “Feng Shui is subtle, simple andgraceful”, and he applies the art and science to complimentthe aspects of building and design aesthetics.

You can contact the author at:Singapore Feng Shui Centre10 Ubi Crescent #04-66, Ubi TechparkSingapore 408564Tel: (+65) 6747 8226Fax: (+65) 6747 8020Email: singfc@fengshui.com.sgFacebook Group: Singapore Feng Shui Centre

This book has been a long time coming. When I was a youngchap, I was captivated by the study of the I Ching. This happenedafter I bought my first book on the subject, James Legge’s IChing: or the Book of Changes. It was a great read and sincethen, I was determined in my quest to study the subject indetail. What intrigued me further was Confucius’ devotion to theI Ching and his endorsement of the I Ching as one of the premierChinese classical texts. Also, scholars from the Western worldhave been studying and translating the classical text since the19th century.

Access to the subject matter back then was very limited. Now,with the Internet and more books available in the market, thereis a wealth of knowledge on this subject out there. Even courseson I Ching are taught in English and other languages, thus openingthe study of I Ching to a far wider audience than before.

I have always wanted to write a book about the I Ching, as Ihave been teaching the subject for many years. I had receivednumerous requests from students and friends to publish such abook. Eventually, I managed to squeeze some time out of myschedule to complete this book on the I Ching.

Personally, I have benefited immensely from the study andapplication of the I Ching. It must be said that an in-depth studyof the I Ching, due to its theoretical, classical and divinationnature, is not only fairly complex but also extremely timeconsuming. However, I must stress to those who are pursuingthe study of this subject that it is a very fulfilling and self-actualising process. We learn new things every day and so thelearning process must be life-long. I wish you all good luck andall the best.

I hope that you will enjoy reading this book.

I wish to acknowledge the following people who have contributedto the publication of this book: Max Koh, for his precious researchwork; my wife Nancy, for typing and editing the script; and MasterOng Teck Chuan, who enlightened me with his knowledge on theinterpretation of the I Ching. I also like to extend my sincerethanks to Jasie Seah, my student who designed the cover of thisbook, my publisher; Mdm Lim Li Kok who has motivated me tocontinue writing and sharing my research work. And lastly, to allmy students who brought case studies to class for my analysisand in the course verfied the amazing accuracy of I Chingdivinations.

Vincent Koh

Foreword

1. Introduction 1

2. The Origin of He Tu and Luo Shu 3

3. The Principles of Yin and Yang 5

4. The Hsia Calendar 7

5. The Five Elements and their Attributes 15

6. I Ching Divination is an Art 21

7. The Eight Trigrams 31

8. Formation of the 64 Hexagrams 47

9. Plum Blossom Divination 57

10. Erecting a Hexagram 73

11. Further Interpretations of Hexagrams 91

12. Liu Yao Divination 97

13. Labelling the 12 Earthly Branches 119

14. Guidelines to the Liu Yao Analysis 139

15. Using the Na Jia Method to Deduce Annual Hexagrams157

16. Case Studies 159

17. Huang Ji Jing Shi or the Imperial Time Classics 171

18. I Ching and the Flying Stars 193

19. Summary of the 64 Hexagrams 199

Appendix 223

Contents

Chart 1: The Index Chart of the 64 Hexagrams, on page 60; Chart 2: The Eight Families Chart, on page 106;Chart 3: To Match Each Line with an Earthly Branch, on page 120; Chart 4: Names of Hexagrams, on page111; Chart 5: To Locate the Subject and Object line (part 1), on page 122; Chart 6: To Locate the Subject andObject line (part 2), on page 123; Chart 7: Combinations and Clashes of the Earthly Branches, on page 140;Chart 8: Life Cycle of the 10 Heavenly Stems, on page 141; Chart 9: Heaven Void, on page 143; Chart 10:Locating the Conception Line, on page 147; Chart 11: Erecting the 64 Hexagrams, on page 199.

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Chapter 1

INTRODUCTION

1. About the I Ching

What is the I Ching? The I Ching is an ancient Chinese art of divination. It is

considered the ultimate subject in Chinese metaphysics study, since it provides

the foundation for other fields of study such as Feng Shui. For thousands of

years, the ancient Chinese have consulted the guidance of the I Ching for their

day to day life, just like that of any western oracle system. However, the I Ching

does not mention God or preach about religion. It talks about philosophy and

dispenses words of wisdom on moral guidance and way of life.

The book of I Ching, also known as the Book of Divination, or the Book of Changes, is an ancient classic. It is an oracle that offers interpretations of great

wisdom, and many people have consulted the I Ching for guidance in major

decisions. However, if you treat the oracle with disrespect by asking silly

questions, or consulting on the same question multiple times, the I Ching will

give you irrelevant answers.

The study of I Ching consists of symbols, formulas and permutations. The I

Ching is based on a series of symbols refered to as trigrams and hexagrams.

They are made up of straight lines that are either broken or continuous, to

reflect the concepts of Yin and Yang respectively. A trigram is made up of

three such lines, while a hexagram is made up of two trigrams, with a total of

six lines. An understanding of the eight basic trigrams will provide great insight

into the study of I Ching, and facilitate a deeper understanding of the patterns

of change inherent in nature and human life.

There is a reality beyond Yin and Yang. This is known as Tai Ji (Tai Chi). These

lines are used to create hexagrams in the I Ching and are always constructed

and read from bottom to top. Each line in a hexagram can be either Yin or Yang.

The various combinations give rise to 64 different hexagrams.

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2. Understanding the Art of I Ching

The I Ching communicates through the 64 hexagrams for the purpose of

divination. In order to interpret a hexagram, it is necessary to understand its

root trigram, and its relevant texts and judgments.

The text also considers the next appropriate course of action to take. Any kind

of question can be put to the I Ching for advice, comment and recommendation.

To consult the I Ching, all you need to do is to erect a hexagram

that consists of two trigrams or six lines. There are only two

possibilities of lines – a continuous line (Yang) or a broken line

(Yin). The I Ching’s answer to your question will be embedded

in these six lines. There are only 64 hexagrams in total that

could convey your answer. This process is a simple yet complex

task to perform.

There are eight trigrams, formed from all possible combinations of Yin and

Yang lines. Each of the trigram is associated with a basic element that reflects

the quality of its energy: Heaven, Earth, Thunder, Wind, Water, Fire,

Mountain and Lake.

Each trigram has a symbolic meaning. For example, the first trigram is Qian

( ), which signifies Heaven, Metal, head, father and so on. When two trigrams

are stacked one on top of the other, they will interact and give the resultant

hexagram its own unique characteristics. The position of each line in a hexagram

also implies a different meaning.

For beginners, you can use the texts and interpretations provided in the oracle

for guidance. However, to perform an I Ching divination effectively, one must

be familiar with the images, symbols and meanings of each hexagram. For

advanced users, you need to understand the positions of the six lines and the

meaning and implication of each combination.

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Chapter 2

THE ORIGIN OF HE TU AND LUO SHU

1. Formation of the He Tu or River Map Diagram

Legend tells us that China’s first sage, Fu Xi (Fu Hsi), was sitting on the bank

of the Yellow River when a “Dragon Horse” emerged from the water. Fu Xi

noticed unique markings inscribed on the creature’s back. On its back, the creature bore black and white dots which formed a pattern comprising of the

five combinations, elements and the directions North, South, East, West and

Centre. This unique configuration forms the basis of the He Tu or River Map

Diagram. In the He Tu formation, there is no movement, no change and no

passage of time.

NUMBER

COMBINATION DIRECTION ELEMENT

1 and 6 North Water

2 and 7 South Fire

3 and 8 East Wood

4 and 9 West Metal

5 and 10 Centre Earth

Fu Xi observed these markings, and transcribed them as the Early Heaven

Trigram Arrangement. Through observation, he came to understand how the

trigrams reflect basic truths and the way energy moves. In doing so, he laid the

foundation for the traditional I Ching divination.

1

6

2

7

38 4 95 10

7

2

5,10

1

6

38 4 9

4

2. Derivation of the Luo Shu

According to legend, Yu, the emperor of the Xia dynasty, witnessed a huge

tortoise emerging from the River Lo in Central China. He saw some very

interesting markings on the shell of a giant tortoise. Similar to those discovered

by Fu Xi, there was a special and significant pattern inscribed at the back of the

tortoise shell.

There were circular dots of numbers on the giant tortoise that were arranged in

a three by three nine grid pattern on its shell. Thus, the Lo Shu is often drawn

in the form of a nine-square chart, with each square representing a direction on

a compass, namely North, South, East, West, Northeast, Northwest, Southeast,

Southwest and the Center.

The pattern of numbers on the giant tortoise in any given direction (i.e.

horizontal, vertical or diagonal) added up to a sum of 15. The Luo Shu on the

other hand, depicted the universe in a constant state of change.

The Chinese system of time dimension is divided into nine stages, each lasting

20 years. Three occurrences of 20 years make up one period. A full

cycle consists of a total of 180 years. Each period is assigned a number from

one to nine.

The Luo Shu configuration is the foundation of the Flying Stars Feng Shui.

The Lo Shu grid

5

6

7

8

9

1

24

3

Luo Shu

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Chapter 3

TTHHEE PPRRIINNCCIIPPLLEESS OOFF YYIINN AANNDD YYAANNGG

1. The Two Forces

Yin and Yang can be expressed as a, broken and unbroken line. The unbroken

line represents Yang and the broken line represents Yin.

Yang Yin

The mythical sage Fu Xi, believed to be the source of I Ching, suggested that

Tao refers to Yin and Yang. Therefore in the I Ching, there is Tai Ji which

produced the two elementary forms namely Yin and Yang. Tai Ji is an ancient

Chinese philosophical term meaning “Supreme Ultimate”. It refers to the

concept of dualism that forms Yin and Yang.

The concepts of Yin and Yang are peculiar to ancient Chinese cosmology. They

are opposing, yet complement and need each other to exist and flourish. They

are like male and female. Yang (male) would not be able to grow without Yin

(female). Similarly, Yin (female) would not be able to give birth without Yang

(male). Yin and Yang are the ways of Heaven and Earth, the fundamental

principles of a myriad of things, and the father and mother of change and

transformation. In general, Tai Ji represents an entire celestial phenomenon.

The image above signifies the orientation of Yang and Yin. Yang, which

represents heat that rises on the Left (East), reaches its peak at the top (South).

Yin, which represents coolness that descends on the right (West), reaches its

maximum at the bottom (North). Similarly, the sun rising in the East reaches its

hottest at noon, before it sets in the West, submerging into darkness. Yet,

within Yin there is a seed of Yang waiting to arise, and within Yang, there is a

seed of Yin waiting to descend. This orientation can be applied to time, seasons

and directions. The concept of Tai Ji implies that everything in the universe has

a duality of Yin and Yang, which will continually interact and create change.

Yin

Yang

Tai Ji

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Chapter 4

THE HSIA CALENDAR

1. Hsia Calendar

The Hsia Calendar, also known as the farmer’s calendar, is one of the

calendars commonly used by the Chinese. This calendar is based on the

movement of the Earth revolving around the sun. The Hsia calendar matches

the four seasons more closely as compared to the Gregorian calendar. Thus, the

start of the New Year does not fall on first of January like the Western calendar,

but begins in Li Chu the start of Spring that occurs usually around the

4th of February.

The Hsia calendar is unique in the sense that it is related to the five basic

elements: Water, Wood, Fire, Earth and Metal. Each year, month and day in the

Hsia calendar is expressed in terms of two elements. For example, the year

1998 is expressed in the Hsia calendar by H5 ( ) – E3 ( ). The first character

represents the Heavenly Stem and the latter represents the Earthly Branch.

This calendar is a necessity for those who want to pursue the Four Pillars of

Destiny Analysis.

Year 1998

H5 Heavenly Stem

Yang Earth Element

E3 Earthly Branch

Yang Wood Element

The other Chinese calendar, commonly known as the Lunar Calendar, is based

on the moon’s rotation around Earth. The first lunar month is not January, but

simply referred to as the First Month.

Likewise, a person’s birth data (year, month, day and hour) can be expressed in

a set of Four Pillars containing eight characters. Similarly, for I Ching divination,

it is important to know the time factor. Therefore, it is necessary to know the

attributes of the Heavenly Stem and Earthly Branch when you decide to perform

the divination. This may be done by referring to a Hsia Calendar based on the

dates.

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2. The Theory of 10 Heavenly Stems and 12 Earthly Branches

The table below shows the basic characters for the 10 Heavenly Stems and 12 Earthly Branches in the Hsia Calendar. They come in pairs to reflect the

elemental influence from Heaven and Earth. The 10 Heavenly stems represent

the influence of the Heaven with either a Yin or Yang element attached.

HEAVENLY STEMS

H1 ( ) Yang Wood H6 ( ) Yin Earth

H2 ( ) Yin Wood H7 ( ) Yang Metal

H3 ( ) Yang Fire H8 ( ) Yin Metal

H4 ( ) Yin Fire H9 ( ) Yang Water

H5 ( ) Yang Earth H10 ( ) Yin Water

The 12 Earthly Branches are connected to the energy of the earth and

corresponds to the 12 animals of the Chinese horoscope. According to the

Chinese zodiac, the configuration of a person at his time of birth is represented

by an animal sign. Each Earthly Branch refers to a year, month, day, hour,

season, direction and an attachment to the Yin and Yang elements.

The Earthly Branches has various types of combinations such as the seasonal,

three and the six combinations. In addition, there are also various types of

clashes within the Earthly Branches. However, they are mainly applied to the

studies of Four Pillars of Destiny and will not be discussed in detail here.

EARTHLY BRANCHES

E1 ( ) Yang Water E7 ( ) Yang Fire

E2 ( ) Yin Earth E8 ( ) Yin Earth

E3 ( ) Yang Wood E9 ( ) Yang Metal

E4 ( ) Yin Wood E10 ( ) Yin Metal

E5 ( ) Yang Earth E11 ( ) Yang Earth

E6 ( ) Yin Fire E12 ( ) Yin Water